Miller News

Posts Tagged ‘Fabtech 2010’

Today wraps up an exciting week of competition here at Fabtech 2010. The final six American SkillsUSA contestants are battling it out for three spots in the Kansas City competition where a champion will be crowned. That champion will move on to represent the U.S. at the World Skills competition. AWS provides the American winner with a $40,000 scholarship provided by Miller

These final six competitors have been narrowed down from 24. Nick Peterson, a former champion, talks about the contest and why it’s important to the industry:

Competitors receive contest drawings and a set of welding procedure specifications. All drawings, welding symbols, and welding terms conform to the latest edition of the American Welding Society standards. Through a series of stations, contestants are tested on various aspects of welding: measuring weld replicas, using weld measuring gauges; laying out a plate and using oxy-acetylene equipment to cut several holes that are checked for accuracy and quality; Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) on steel making welds in various positions using short circuiting transfers; Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) using a shielding gas, making welds in various positions and, using a combination machine capable of providing the correct welding current for shielded metal arc (SMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Competitors complete the steel project and weld an aluminum project in various positions using a variety of filler metals.

We also chatted with folks around the show and the competition about the shortage of skilled welders and why today’s youth should consider this skilled trade:

We kicked off FABTECH today with a major announcement that introduces a new strategic partnership with Panasonic Welding Systems and the creation of Miller Welding Automation, a new Miller business unit.

This strategic partnership makes Miller Welding Automation the distribution route for Panasonic robotic welding arms in North America. The welding arms will be combined with Miller products and delivered to the market as part of a complete automated welding system. As part of this transaction, Miller has purchased assets of the Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America (PFSA) welding automation business.

First order of business: welcome to FABTECH 2010. We’re excited to be here again – not that we need the reminder, but as we walk around the convention center and the hotels, we see just how lucky we are to be a part of this industry. FABTECH attendees are some of the most innovative and talented folks you’ll find working today, and we’re honored to be of service to you.

If you find yourself wandering around the hall, please visit us in Hall C, booth # 6811. Tim Temby gives you a brief glimpse into what you’ll see in the Miller booth:

We also have a major industry announcement happening today at 9:00 a.m. EST. The press conference gets out at roughly 10 a.m., expect to see the news then. We’ll report back here later in the day with it as well.

As with last year, you can follow along via your preferred social media outlet, or you can see them all at once by visiting our FABTECH social media dashboard: Click here!

Once again, Miller will be showcasing some exciting new welding and safety products at the annual FABTECH show (formerly known as the AWS/FABTECH International Welding Show) in Atlanta, Ga. This year’s booth will feature industry-specific products and technologies that offer companies the potential to significantly improve productivity, reduce rework and increase employee safety.

Check out the News Release for a small sample of the exciting new products that will be on display.

If you can’t make it to the show, be sure to check our Youtube, Facebook and Twitter pages for live updates and videos from the show floor!